The Medical University of South Carolina and The Citadel have agreed to a partnership that will allow cadets at the Charleston military college to access healthcare services, including via virtual care, through the health system
Virtual care is coming to The Citadel
The famed military college in Charleston has forged a partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to provide healthcare services for its roughly 3,300 cadets.
The multi-phased program includes access to MUSC’s 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care program, which enables staff at the college’s infirmary to connect with healthcare providers at MUSC through a telemedicine platform. Students will also be able to manage their healthcare interaction through the health system’s digital health portal.
“Some of the many benefits this affiliation provides include integrated health care access for cadets who can use the MUSC digital medical records portal to manage their care, prescriptions and appointments, and will now have 24-hour access to their medical records and appointments as well as continuing to have 24-hour access to medical care,” Charles Cansler, vice president for finance and business at The Citadel, said in a press release. “Additionally, cadets will be treated with the latest medical technology both on campus and at other MUSC facilities as needed. And over time, upgrades will be made to the infirmary equipment, processes and the building itself.”
As part of the agreement, MUSC Health will bill insurers for care provided at the college and the college will cover co-pays for cadets.
“Health care is undergoing a major transformation right now – from digitization and automation of certain services to how and when individuals access in-person care,” Eugene Hong, MD, MUSC Health’s chief physician executive, said in the release. “As the needs of the community change with the times, we look forward to doing our part to help The Citadel ensure the health and well-being of the Corps.”
One of six senior military colleges in the US, The Citadel was founded in 1842, 18 years after MUSC, also in Charleston, was opened. Its students are called the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, and come from 45 states and 23 other countries.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation at HealthLeaders.